Ionic exchange operations



IFeb. 18, 1947.

IONIC EXCHANGE OPERATIONS Filed Jan. l22, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aff-@Ruff Feb 18, 1947- l P. M. coN'rN-r E-rAL 2,415,936

IONIC EXCHANGE OPERATIONS Filed Jan. 22, 1944 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 QS r u., nu. mm I gg LL An mw\ u JNVENToRs o C E c., N/ ANTHoNYJ.Fusca-1ER,

92 WAYNE .KwELLa TTORNEY P. M. com-ANT Erm. 2,415,936 'IoNIc ExcHANGE PERA'rI'oNs Feb. 1'8, 1947.

Filed Jan. 22;- 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1947. P. M. CONTA'NT ETAL 2,415,936

101m: EXCHANGE OPERATIONS y 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 22, 1944 INVENTORS: ANTHONY J. Flscman, y WAYNE A. Kwam. a By PETER M.cowmm ATTORNEY K Feb. 18, 1947.

P; M. coNTANT ETAL I IONIc EXCHANGE OPERATIONS Filed Jan. 22, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.' ANTHONY J. FlscHER, WAYNE A. KIVELL a PETER M. consum,

AT T DRNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1947 OFFICE IONIC EXCHANGE OPERATIONS Peter M. Contant, Maywood, N. J.. and Anthony J. Fischer, Manhasset, and Wayne A. Kivell, Bronxvllle, N. Y., assignors to The Dorr Company, New York, N. ware Y., a corporation of Dela- Application January 22, 1944, serial Ne. 519,386

(ci. 21o-24) 14 Claims.

tainable through it; and this in turn involves the problem of providing automatic means for sequentially filling a number of tanks with liquid from a common source of feed. I

Because of these two aspects involved, the invention' may be said to have among its objects: (A) to provide improved means for conducting the regeneration in stagewise or counter-current fashion; that is to provide automatic means for eiecting counter-current regeneration of an exchanger bed, whereby the bedds sequentially contacted lwith partly or nearly spent regenerant solution, and thereafter with less spent or nearly unspent or fresh regenerant solution, and finally contacted with rinse water to displace the last batch of solution sent into the exchanger bed; still otherwise expressed, to provide an automatic carry-over system whereby a number of solution tanks, and finally the rinse water supply, become sequentially connected with the exchanger bed in a manner yto establish the desired cycle; and (B) to provide simple and foolproof means for sequentially feeding and lling a number of tanks in their ,ordery of sequence from a common feed headewr, whereby the feed is automatically carried over from one tank to the other.

l Another object' is to provide a counter-current regeneration system that is simple and yet fully automatic in the sense that, for instance, a push button impulse will start it.

Ionic exchanger materials, also simply called exchangers, are for practical purposes a granularmaterial, and a solution to be treated by them is passed through a bed of that material, preferably instance, in the softening or chemical purication treatment of water, or

in the purification treatment of sugar juices.

Among the exchanger materials there are known today two important groups, namely. the' zeolites and the organo1ites.

The zeolites are cation exchangers oliinorgani nature and they have substantially little or acid resistance, that is they are liable to disintevgration and color throwing in a strong-acid environment. That is to say, they operate in a neutral cycleof exhaustion and regeneration, in that they are capable of performing a simple exchange of one kind of cation against another kind,

for instance sodium against calcium. When exhausted by saturationwith Ca-ions, they can be regenerated with a neutral salt in solution, such as NaCl.

This cycle comprises contacting the exchanger material or bed with the solution to be Vtreated containing Ca-ions, whereby the Ca-ions are taken up by the exchanger while in return the molar equivalent of Na is released from the exchanger intc the solution.

The organolites derive their name'from the fact lthat (in distinction from the inorganic zeolites) they are of organic nature, and as now known they are represented by synthetic resinous compounds. They can be classed as cation exchangers on the one hand, and anion exchangers on the other hand, and they are and must be non-disintegrating in the presence of strong-acid solution, and

the anion exchanger must be resistant to a strongalkali solution as well. The reasons for this, and the importance and function of the cationand the anion exchanging qualities respectively of these organolites will appear more fully hereinafter. Cationand anion exchangers other than the organolites are also known.

Aside from being capable of merely exchanging one cation (for instance Na) for another kind of cation (such as Ca), the ycation exchanging organolite is also capable of a specific exchange operation whereby cations are taken up from a solution by the exchanger, while the molar equivalent of H-ion is released from the exchanger into the solution, and whereby the solution is accordingly acidifled. Because of this specific ability, the cation-exchanging organolite may also be called an H-ion exchanger, while the respective exchange operation may be called the H-ion exchange cycle.

Thus, for instancejdue to the presence of sul-` fates and chlorides in the solution being treated, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid are `formed, as long as the solution is contacted with or passed through the H-ion exchanger bed, that is .until the exchange capacity of the bed will have become exhausted. The exchanger bed in turn will become regenerated by contact with strong-acids of suitable concentration, for instance the same kind of strong-acids that are found to have been formed in the acidiiied eiiluent liquid passing from the bed.

The 4organolite exchanger o-f the anion-exchanging kind, since it is acid-resistant, is capable of functioning as a de-acidiiier of solutions. That is to say, it is conditioned or saturated with OH-ions by regeneration with a strong-alkali solution. Then when the thus regenerated exannoso changer is contacted with an acidified solution containing sulfuric acid and/or hydrochloricanid, the OH-ions are released into the solution, while the molar eouivalent oi' sulfateor chloride anions isftaken up bythe exchanger until it becomes exhausi'ed. This means that the exchange of anions in what may be called the hydroxyl (OH) cycle, will convert the acid into the mclareuuivalent of HOH. i. e.. H2O, i. e., pure water. It will be understood that the anic-n exchanger is also'alkali-resistant, since it must be regenerated with a strong-alkali solution, for instance sodium carbonate (NaaCOs),

l For the purpose of ionic purification treatment or' de-salting of liquids, that is, the removal therefrom of ionized solutes or salts, the liquid can be subjected to the sequential treatment in a'cationand an anion exchanger bed, with the net result that the ionized solutes are replaced with the molar equivalent in pure water, as the liquid passes first through an acidification phase (in the H-ion cycle) and then through a de-acidiflcation phase (in the OH-cycle) By way of example the invention will hereinl y vided a. series of tanks containing the respective batches of regenerant solutions, which tanks are.

required to be placed into action sequentially with respect to the exchanger bed in such a manner that. as each tank is emptied into the bed, the

residual liquid in the bed is displaced by the contents of the next following tank. This may also involve the return of not fully spent solution into an emptied tank, by way of displacement from the bed, for use in a subsequent cycle. It further involves displacing with wash water the final or largely unspent residual regenerant'solution from the bed, for use in a following cycle. However, acid and wash water intermix to some extent, and most in the zone where they adjoin and contact each other directly. Hence, the tail end por- 'tion of the volume of acid being displaced from the bed, will appear to have become somewhat diluted, while a trailing acid portion is found in gradually diminishing strength in a volume ofl displacement water as it passes from the bed following the passing of the volume of acid. The largely unspent and slightly diluted displaced acid is re-used in a subsequent cycle as partially used solution. while the water containing the trailing acid portion may be utilized for the preparation of fresh regenerant solution of desired strength by adding the necessary amount of acid thereto.

The number of solution tanks or stages used as wel'. as their particular manner of operation may be varied within the scope of this invention. However, Considering as an example a three tank arrangement. in which the first tank contains nearly spent but not fully utilized solution, the second tank more nearly unspent solution. and the third tank fresh unspent solution, the-objects 4 changer bed establishes connections enabling the second tank to feed its content into the exchanger bed, thereby displacing residual solution left in the bed from the rst tank, sending it to waste as fully spent solution. This condition continues until the second tank is empty.

The emptying of the second tank into the exchanger bed establishes connections which enable the third tank to feed its content of fresh strong solution into-the bed thereby displacing nearly spent residual solutions left in the bed from the second tank into the iirst tank.

The emptying of the third tank establishes connections whereby displacement or rinse water is sent into the exchanger bed, and whereby residual partially spent or nearly unspent solution is displaced from the bed into the second tank for use in another regeneration cycle. This,A continues until the second tank is full, at which time the bed will have in it residual displacement water containing trailing acid.

The filling or full condition of the second tank establishes a connection whereby the continued flow of wash water into the bed will displace the water containing trailing acid from the bed into the rst tank, to serve as make-up water to which the appropriate amount of strong-acid is added to make fresh solution ofthe desired strength.

More specifically it may be said that the objects of this invention are attained by connecting the vinlet valves of the solution tanks to a common header or acid return line leading from the exchanger bed, and by connecting the outlet valves of the tanks to a common header leading to the exchangerbed, and providing a carry-over system controlled by the solution levels in the tanks, and effective to open or block the 'passages to and from the tanks, as well as to open or block the wash water supply, all in a sequence and coordination to establish the countercurrent operation just outlined. n

Still further particularized, the carry-over between the inlet passages or inlet valves for the of the invention are attainable by way of an automatic carry-over system as follows:

The emptying of the iirst tank into the exsolution. tanks is eected through blockage means which open automatically due to hydraulic pressure and which are provided at intervals in the feed header, each inlet valve having one such blockage means associated therewith. A blockage is opened as a result of the pressure of the solution or liquid being displaced from the exchanger bed, whenever the associated tank inlet valve closes. That is to say, when the inlet valve of a solution tank closes due to the rise of the liquid level in Ithe tank as it iills up with the solution displaced fromthe bed, such closing of the inlet valve will cause pressure in the header .to build up suiiiciently to open the blockage, thus opening the next section of the header and aiording access to the next tank. Thus the solution will iiow through the header past the closed tank inlet valve or branch connection to the next blockage where another branch connection admits it through a then open valve into the next tank.

The carry-over between the outlet valves of the solution tanks lseffected in such a manner that the empty condition of one tank will close the outlet valve of that tank and open the outlet valve of the tank next in order. Y

The operation of the carry-over system is rendered automatic with the aid of solenoid-actuated valves controlled by liquid levels in the solution tanks.

Some features of the invention reside in certain combinations of liquid-level-controlled inlet i fanaten and outlet valves for the solution tanks, whereby an upper level effects -the carry-over from the inlet valve of one tank to the inlet valve of the next tank, while a lower level effects the carryover from the outlet valve oi' one tank to the outlet valve of the next tank.

Other features reside in the carry-over means for the inlet valves of the solution tanks,- which comprise a flow-blockage means in the supply header; the blockage means becomes alternately eective and ineiiective as an associated tank inlet valve opens and clos'es. In this way the supply flow is automatically diverted from one tank to the next. l

Other automatic featurespf the carry-over sys- 'tem comprise: automatic operation of the rinse nection with the eilluent end of the bed prior to starting a new regeneration cycle; and automatically opening the outlet valve oi the first solution tank at the beginning of the cycle, coincident (e) An arrangement iny which the'einptycon-- dition of the first solution tank sends an impulse to close the spent solution disposal outlet.' while opening a blockage between the disposal outlet connection andthe .feed header for the tanks, so as to divert nearly spent eilluent solution from the bed into the iirst solution tank for use in the next regeneration cycle.

with starting a pump to furnish the iirst batch of solution to the bed.

Still other features are embodied inspecific devices employed in the carry-over system, namely the combination of a tank inlet valve with a blockage means in the feed header, which blockage means is yieldable to pressure building up in the initial portion of the header when the inlet valve closes.

The features more specifically deiined comprise:

(a) An arrangement in which the `solution tanks are operated by la combination of float control and electrical means which close the supply valve when the tank is lled to its upper limit, but leave the valve open while the level remains below that limit while lling or emptying; and in which the lower limit level or empty condition of the tank causes closure of the outlet valve of the tank togetherwith the opening of the outlet valve of the full tank next in order.

(b) An arrangement in which the supply valve for each solution tank is cooperatively associated with a blockage means provided in the supply.

header. The blockage is effective as such while the associated supply .valve is open, but becomes ineiective due to pressure building up in the header when the valve closes, allowing the flow in the header to proceed past the branchinlet just closed tothe open inlet of the next tank.

(c) An arrangement in which the same impulse that starts a pump to furnish solution to the bed at the beginning of the cycle also opens through solenoid action the outlet valve of first solution tank.

(d) An arrangement in which the emptying of the last or fresh solution tanksends an impulse which stops the pump supplying the bed and header with solution, and which also starts the rinse water flow through the bed, as by solenoid action. The water supply valve is either timeor volume-controlled. A predetermined rinse water volume thus passing is large enough to sequentially displace from the bed the last batch of solution largely unspent, and in addition a batch of water containing the trailing acid, both batches being sent to the proper solution tanksin their order of sequence, for use in the next regeneration cycle.

(f) An arrangement comprising the foregoing automatic features of the carry-over system, with 'the addition that coincident with the timeor but an initial push button impulse to start the cycle, namely the impulse described under (c). (g) In associationwith an inlet valve for one of the solution tanks, -an automatic blockage device in the form of a vented rising loop portion or goose nec formed by the feed header. While the inlet valve is open, the solution or liquid will take the path of least resistance, namely through the valve into the tank. When the valve'closes, as the supply of liquid continues suflicient pressure will thereby build up to overcome the hydraulic head presented by the rising portion of the header, thus rendering the blockage ineffective and diverting the solution or liqparts will be identified by specific namesfor convenience, but they are intended to be' as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated the best embodiment of the. Y

` companying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic showing of a threestage countercurrent regeneration system connectible in alternation to one or the other of. a

pair of H-ion exchanger beds, with trailing acid recovery.

vFigures 2a and 2b each show a part of 'an electric wiring diagram underlying the automatic operation of the carry-over system. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail showing to exemplify electronic liquid level controlled devices associated with the respectivesolution tanks.

Figure 4 is an' enlarged showing of a timecontrolled switch device 'controlling the period of rinse water flow.

Figure 5 is `an enlarged detail showing of one of the electrode ttings associated with the respective solution tanks.

The apparatus system herein shown by way of example (see (Fig. 1) provides' for three-stage regeneration whereby one of two exchanger beds I0 and i I, when exhausted, may be operatively vtion 2| leading to the top of bed Il.

connected to a system of-three solution tanks I2,

I3, I4. Each of the'exchanger beds having a depth l i's shown to be supported upon a perforated plate I 5 in a tank I6 provided with an overilow launder Il a considerable distance above the top of the exchanger bed proper. The freeboard space k between the top of the bed and the overnow edge of the launder'I'l allows for throwing the granules of the bed into suspension or teeter by upfiow passage of water therethrough. A space m betweenthe perforated plate I5 and the bottom of the tank IBpermits the withdrawal therefrom of liquid passing downward through the bed.

A complete operatng cycle of the exchangers may comprise the (l) saturation or treatment phase during whichthe exchanger bed becomes gradually exhausted by the solution under treatment herein called the primary solution or liquid or raw water passing therethrough, (2) a teeter phase in which the granules or particles of the exhausted bed are thrown into suspension or teeter by an upflow of water for cleansing purposes, followed by drainage of excess water to cause subsiding of the bed, (3) the counter-current regeneration phase whereby a sequence of batches of solution is passed through the bed, with return of some batch or batches for re-use in another cycle, as well as recovery of trailing regenerant acid. This phase (3) is the one herein shown as full-automatic (see Figs. 2a and 2b).

Pumpand piping connection for operating either one or the other of the beds I0 and II in the first phase (l) comprises a feed pump i3 for the solution to be treateda'feed header I3 leadleading to the top of bed In and a feed connec- Shut-Off valves 22 and 23 are shownat the inlet and outlet ofthe pump I8, and additional shut-oil valves -24 and .25 in the branch feed vconnections 2li and 2I respectively. Outlet connections 26 and 21 for treated solution or liquid lead from the bottom of the tanks containing the beds I0 and II respectively, and `loin in a common discharge line 28 for further disposal. The outlet connections 26 and 21 have shut-off' valves 23 and 30 respectively. Y

The second operating phase (2) is realized through a pump 3l for teeter water. a header 32 leading from the pump, and having a'branch connection 33 leading into the discharge connection 21. and another branch connection 34 leading into the discharge connection 26, The branch connections 33 and 34'have shut-ofi valves 35 and 36 respectively. Teeter water may be introduced into the bottom of the exchanger -beds by closing the valves 29 and 30 and opening the valves 36 and 35. Teeter water may overflow into the launder Il whence it may discharge into 'connections 3l or 38 respectively leading into a common discharge line 39.

For instance, the teeter bed I0 may be caused to subside from its expanded or teetering condition to normalor compacted condition by shutting off valve 36 and by opening valves 43 and 4I permitting excess water to drain fromy the bottom of the bed through a pipe 42 having a rising portion 43, a transverse portion 44, and a falling portion 45, leading intothe drain connection 39. In this way the pipe 42 forms a gooseneck Gi determining the resulting water level in the tank I6. The gooseneck G1 has a. vent pipe Vi from which branches a pipe 46 at a point disposed a distance h. above the top of ing from the pump, having feed connection 20 the gooseneck G1, which pipe 43 forms part o! the pipe system for the regeneration of the beds.

The pump and pipe' connections and accessories for the third operating phase (3), that is, regeneration will now be described in connection with bed I8 since bed II can be regenerated from the tanks I2, I3, I4 by the same system and in the same manner by way of suitable parallel connections and shut-ot! valves. That is to say, while bed I0 is connected, for regeneration, bed II may be connected for solution treatment or production. A discharge header 41 leading into the suction end of a pump 48, has branch connections 49, 50, 5I, with thefrespective solution tanks I2, I3, I4, the branch connections having shut-oil valves 52, 53, 54. The pump 48 deliversinto a header having branch connections 53 and Bl leading to the top of the exchanger beds I0 and II respectively, and having respective shut-oi! valves 58 and 53. Water residual in the bed from the preceding teeter operation, and, subsequent to it, spent regenerant solution may be displaced and discharged from-the bed downwardly through a drain connection already specified in connection with the teetering phase. namely the valve 40 and the gooseneck G1 'comprising the pipe 42, the rising section 43, the transverse section 44, and the falling section 45 leading through valve 4I into the drain pipe 33.

4In order to divert eiiiuent, that vis partially spent regenerant solution from drainage, and to effect its delivery to the regenerant solution tanks, the drain connection or gooseneck Gi is connected at its top with the solution return.

pipe 43. l

This pipe 46 in turn forms a series of goosenecks G1, Ga, G4, Gs, the top of which are located a distance h above the top of the gooseneck G1. These goosenecks function as yieldable blockages in diverting 'the effluent solution in pipe 46 sequentially from drainage to the first, then from the first to the second, and then from the second to the third solution tank. That is Y to say, when the drainage valve 4I is closed, the

nearly spent eilluent regenerant solution from pipe 42 will rise above gooseneck Gi and up .through gooseneck Ge, but will be blocked by gooseneck Ge if valve 6I is open permitting the solution to now into tank I2. The oats act in such a manner as to hold the valves BI, 32, 63 open when the tanks are empty or not filled, but close .them when the level rises due to lling of the tank. Therefore, as solution continues nowing through pipe 46 from the bed I0, the nlling of the tank I2 will eventually cause the float `IIa to close valve 6I whereupon the solution will be forced up through gooseneck Gs and through open valve 62 while gooseneck G4 acts as a blockage. Again, as tank I3 fills, the rising liquid level lifts float 62a causing valve 62 to close.

The continued now through pipe 46 will force the solution up through gooseneck G4 thus overcoming-the blockage represented by the static head h thereof. The solution then meets the blockage represented by gooseneck Gs as the solution flows through valve 63 lling the tank i Vents Va, V4, Vs are provided for the respective goosenecks (31.04, Gs. An additional vent Ve Wis shown at the end er pipe u where-1t leads into the-drain pipe 64. A measuring'tank for strong fresh makeup acid for each regeneration cycle is provided at 65, having discharge pipe86 leading into the tank I4, and having a shut-oil? valve 61, and also having a supply pipe 682with shut-oil valve 69 leading from an acid supply pressure tank 10.

There are also lprovided contact electrode devices II, 12, 'I3 at the bottom of the respective solution tanks I2, I3, I4, which electrode devices send electric impulses for the'purpose oioperating certain solenoid-controlled valves and pipe connections of the carry-over system in response to the lowering of the solution level, that is the empty condition of the tanks. The function of these contact electrode devices in the operation of the electrical part of the automatic carryover system will be more clearly set forth further below.

Operation Be it assumed that the exchanger bed II co'ntinues normal production or H-ion exchange operation as the liduid to be treated passedfrom the supply header I9 through branch pipe-2I and open valve 25 to the top of bed II and out at the bottom through outlet pipe 21 and open valve 38 into the treated liquid discharge line 28. Valves 35, 40a, 4Ia, 59 associated with bed I I are closed at this time so as to keep it disconnected from the regeneration system.

It should be noted that a by-pass connection B leading from the upper portion of pipe 45a of tank II to the solution return line 46 is also closed at this time as by a valve 'I`4. Note also that this by-papss line does not in reality run as shown over the tank I6 of vbed I6, but rather at a horizontal elevation substantially equal to that of the top of gooseneck Ga.

The exchanger bed I is assumed to have been taken out of production by shutting valve 24 in the branch feed connection 20, and valve 29 in the outlet connection 26. Valve 36 is then opened and the pump 3| started to furnish backwash or teeter water to the bottom of bed I Il through branch 34 and open valve 36, while valves 40 and 58 connecting the bed I0 with the regeneration system proper still remain closed. The backwash water nowrising through the bed throws the granules or' particles thereofinto suspension or teeter condition whereby they are cleansed vofy solid phase impurities or deposits, which impurities are thus flushed out and leave the tank I6 with the teeter water overflowing into the launder I1 and out through the pipe connection 38 into the common drain or discharge line 39.l After the bed I8 has thus been sulciently flushed, thebackwash water supply is shut off by stopping the pump 3I and closing valve 36. The particles or granules of the bed are then allowed to subside as an'excess of teeter water is allowed to drain off from the space M at the bottom 'of the tank, after valves 40 and 4I have been opened.

The bed will subside and the water level will fall so as to adjust itself to the height of the gooseneck G1 at which the bed is kept in submergence. The bed I 0 is now ready for countercurrent regeneration from the solution tanks I2, I3, I4. The operation will rst -be described in its various stages and effects disregarding the electrical control and wiring system involved, which system will be more fully described below. A suitable switch device, for instance a push button starter may start the pump 48 to furnish regenerant solution from the respective solution l eiects the opening through solenoid actuation of the valve 52 so as to enable the pumpv to draw the solution from tank I2, while valves 53 and 54 of tanks I3 and I4 remain closed. Thus the solution (nearly spent solution) passes from tank a point at or below the I2fto the top of the bed I0, displacing downwardly residual teeter water -therein through valve 40 and gooseneck Gi and the open valve 4I into the drain pipe `39 for disposal.- When the solution level in tank I2 falls to a point at or below the contact electrode device 1I, the valve 52 is thereby closed while the valve 53 also by solenoid actuation is opened. Thus the pump 48 continues functioning by drawing solution (less fully spent or nearly unspent solution or medium strength acid) from tank of bed I8 through the branch 56, thus displacing now fully spent solution originally in tank I2 through valve 40 and the gooseneck G1 and open valve 4I into, the drain or discharge pipe 39 to waste.

When the solution level in tank I3 falls to contact electrode device to open, while valve 4I also solenoid-actuated is Vcaused to close. With this setting the pump 48 now draws fresh unspent solution of the proper strength from tank' I4 to the top of bed l0, thereby displacing from the bed weak solution that is not fully spent. Since the valve 4I is now closed, this displaced solution is barred from reaching the waste' dischargepipe 39, and is diverted into the solution return pipe 46, the

pressure building up so as to overcome the height or blockage of gooseneck G2 as represented by the additional height or column h.

The solution then being blocked'by the next gooseneck G3 is hthus delivered into empty tank I2 through the valve 6I now open due to thel lowered position of iloat 6I. When tank full, the rising. ofviloat 6IEL will close valve 8| 4and thereby force anyfurther solution being displaced from the bed into pipe 46 to overcome the blockage represented by gooseneck G3 and pass on into tank I3. This filling of tank I3 starts when the liquid level in tank I4 (strong solutionk tank) has fallen to a point at the contact electrode device I3 which through solenoid actuation or nearly unspent vsolution through valve 40,

through gooseneck G2, past the now closed valve 6I, and-through gooseneck G3, and the now open valve 62 into the empty tank I3, while the gooseneck G4 functions as a blockage preventing the solution to pass beyond that point in the line 46. When tank I3 is fullwith what had been full strength solution in tank I4 but is now medium strength solution. the iioat 62B will cause I3 tothe topv this device Wil cause valve 53 to close, and, at'the same time, valve 54 by solenoid actuation tank Il, while gooseneck of the next regeneration cycle.

annoso valve B2 to close, while rinse water through valve 16 continues to flow downwardly through the bed. Consequently there the bed a batch of water containing residual unspent acid from the bed in great dilution. namely what was herein dened initially as trailing acid. Since valves 6i and 62- are closed this displaced rinse water will be forced to overcome the blockage presented by gooseneck Grand to pass on through the now open valve 83 into the empty Gs acts as a blockage. When tank Il has thus been filled, the iloat 33! will have caused valve 33 to close, thus forcing the continued flow of rinse water displaced from the bed I to overcome the blockage presented by gooseneck Gs by flowing therethrough and into the discharge pipe 64 and the drain 33 to waste.

A time clock device electrically' and through will now be displaced from` solenoid action associated with the rinse water valve- 16 (valve 11 has a similar timing device) functions so as to close the valve 13 after an adequate predetermined amount ofrinse water has passed through bed I3, thus 'stopping the rinse water. This time clock or volumetric device at the end of the rinse period also opens through solenoid action the valve 4i thus resetting the same and preparing for the beginning Valves 43 and 58 may then be manually closed, and the regener-v ated bed i0 is again ready for production. By this time the other bed iimay have become exhausted and be in need of regeneration. To this end it may be disconnected from the raw water supply, and connected with the regenerationsystem as represented by the solution tanks i2, I3,l il, by setting the proper valves. Thereupon the regeneration cycle may be started to work automatically in the manner described.

There will now be described the operation of the regeneration system including the function of the electrical'system (as shown in Figures 2a and 2b) whereby the regeneration is automatically effected.

The control units within the electrical system comprise:

0 =Motor for rcgcncrant solution pump u. C=Main line switch (double pole single throw fusible switch).

A Magnetic starter switch with overload relays and normally open in tcrlock B =Start-st`op push button station, to start regeneration.

J Electrode (probe) fittings (such as type H31 manufactured by L Photoswitch Inc., Cambridge Mass.) mounted in sol ution Q tanks 12, and 14. respectively. and responsive to "empty" condition ci the tanks. J1 Electronic level control units (such as type PlN manufactured L, by Photoswitch Inc., Cambridge, Mass.) actuated by the electrode fittings J, L. Qres tivev; F-:Soleuoid unit tor actuating t e e uent possi valve u. H Solenoid units for actuating the outlet valves 32, I3, 34. respec K tively oi solution tanks 12, u, u, respectively.

M Rsolenold unit for actuating the wash or toeter water supply valve h-'Reiay switch with 1 normally closed, and 2 normally open contacts.

Lith Relay switch with 1 normally closed and 3 normally open conacts.

.Q lttolay switch with 2 normally closed and 3 normally open con- B-'lime delay relay switch with normally closed contacts, and i5 seconds delay clos X-Time switch (su as manufactured by General Electric 0o., type TSA-l0) with solenoid actuated timer clutch U, and normally c osed main contact T, for shutting the wesh water supply valve R through reiag switch Qa.

Xl-Rela switc with l normally closed contact.

Y- Doub e le double throw switch for connecting the regeneration system eit er with bed 1l or with bed u. J

FFI-Solenoid unit ior actuating the elucnt disposal valve m ior tank u. Rit-Solenoid ier actuating the wash or tester water supply valve 35 for tank I1.

l2 electronic level control device Lr and the relay switch La are a control unit designated as La: while the electrode Q with the electronic level control device Q1 and the relay switch Qa constitute a control unit Qa.

Let it be assumed that the exchanger bed kIl is being operated for production, that is to say that raw water is being drawn by the pump I3 through open valve 22 and sent through open valves 23 and 23 by way of pipe 2l to the top of exchanger bed ii, to pass downwardly through the bed and out at the bottom by way of pipe 21 and open valve into the discharge header 23 for treated water. During this operation of bed Ii the valves 33, 40a and 59 are closed. y

The exchanger bed I0 can be operated for pro duction in the same manner, being connected in parallel with the bed il to the raw water supply and the treated water discharge through suitably valved pipe connections. However, bed i3 shall now be assumed to be exhausted and 'in need of regeneration. Itis, therefore, disconnected irom the raw water feed line by closingjvalve 24, and from the treated water discharge line by closing valve 29. The previously closed valve 3B is then opened while valves 4D and 58 remain closed.

That is to say, wash or teeter water from a source such as pump v3i (its inlet and outlet valves 3io and 3ib being open) is sent upowing into and through the bed I0 at a rate whereby the granules or particles of the bed are more or less thrown into suspension or teeter suilicient to wash the same clean of and to flush away any l solid matter or impurities that may have been caught in the bed during the preceding water treatment phase. Due to the valve settings previously established and with the proper rate of uptlow, the teeter water, carrying the flushed out impurities but substantially none of the exchanger material, is caused to overflow into discharge launder i1 being sent to waste through )pipe connection 38 and waste water line 39. After the bed has thus been sufllciently :hushed and cleansed, the now of teeter water is shut of! by closing valve 38, and valves '43 Vand Il are opened to allow excess water to drain from the bed i0, causing the exchanger material to subside That is to say,

The electrode J with the electronic level control l 'device J1 and the relay switch J: together constitute in eect a control unit indicated by the dot- Aand-dash line surrounding them and collectively vnormally closed contacts while the water level adjusts itself to substantially the elevation or the top of the bed and of the gooseneck G1, keeping the exchanger bed submerged.

Bed it is now ready for regeneration and is connected to the counter-current regeneration system comprising the` solution tanks l2, i3, I3 while valve 4i remains open. From this point on the operation is substantially automatic as shown in the electrical system according to Figures 2a andZb which should be viewed together with the piping layout shown in Figure l.

The valve control circuit with the line switch C comprises a pair oi main conductors 33 and 3|. The closing of the line switch C at once energizes the solenoids of the relay switches J2. La, Q2 and thereby re-sets the multiple contact switch members thereof in preparation to the further sequential automatic functioning of these switches.

the solenoid 82 of relay Ja is energized to lift the contact member 33 so that the normally closed contact portion 34 will open the 35o and 33h while the other two normally. open contact portions 33 and 31 close the respective contacts 35a, 33h and 31a, 31h. The relay J2 is energized by a circuit starting at point 83 and comprising conductor 33 constituting the solenoid coil 82, contact point 31o, v

conductor 90, point 9|, conductor 92, point 93, conductor 94, contact member 95- normally closed on contact points 95a and 95h01 a relay holding switch X1, conductor 96, point 91, conductor 98, point 99, conductor |00, contact point 81h, conductor normally closed main contacts |02 of the electronic level control device J1, an internal conductor |02a within the device J 1, and conductor |03 terminating in point |04 on main line.

The device J1 is identied by its terminals a,

v b, c, d, andy e. The terminals b and d are bridged by an internal conductor I02. Terminals a and b are bridged by the normally closed contacts |02. Terminal c has a connection |02b leading to point |02c on the main line 80. The terminal d connects the internal conductor |02a with the external conductor |03. The terminal e has a con-` ductor |02d leading to the electrode J.

The manner in which the main contacts |02 in the device J1 are influenced by the liquid level in tank |2 is the same as in the similar devices L1 and Q1 which are iniiuenced by the liquid levels in tanks I3 and I4 respectively. The function of device J1 will now be described per se in view of the detail showing in Fig. 3. l

IAs long as the electrode J is submerged in the solution of tank I2 a circuit is maintained over electrode J and ground Gn of the tank, energizing solenoid coil C1 so as to keep contacts |02 closed. 'Ihe energizing circuit comprises conductor Ca leading from anode An of tube T to solenoid coil C1, conductor C4, secondary transformer coil Cs, cathode :filament Ce which is in parallel with a portion Cr of the secondary transformer' coil A grid circuit influencing the bias on grid Gd of tube T comprises groundv Gr1 on tank |2, electrode J, conductor |02d leading to terminal e, internal conductor Cz leading to grid Gd of tube T, and ground Gra.

When the solenoid coil C1 is energized it moves the solenoid core Cs in such a manner as to keep the contacts |02 closed against the` tension of a spring Sp, the contacts |02 having internal conductors C9 and C10 leading to the respective terminals a and b of the device J1. Conductors |02b and |03 providepower from the main conductors 80 and 8| to the terminals e and d and thus to the primary transformer coil C11.

When the solution level in tank I2 has dropped suciently to cause the electrode J.to become sufiiciently energized to change the bias onv grid Gd of tube T this will unbalance the tube T in a manner to de-energize the solenoid coil C1' thereby allowing the contacts |02 to be opened by the spring Sp and thus de-energize the switch coil 82 of relay switch J2.

VIn Fig. 2a the electronic device L1 controlled from the liquid level in solution tank I3 is identied by its terminals f, g, h. i, and k, an internal conductor I |512. a power supply conduit |I5c connecting terminal h with point ||5d on main line 80, which together with line ||6 between terminal i and point ||1 on main power line 8| supplies power to the electronic device L1. A

A conductor |3011 connects terminal p with ele'ctrode Q of tank |4, the tank being grounded as at Gn. The character and operation of device Q1 otherwise is the same as that of the device J1 as detailed in Fig. 3 and described above.

Similarly a solenoid |05 of relay L2 is energized to lift the contact member I 06 so that the contact portion |01 will open the normally closed contacts I01a and |01b while closing the other three contact portions |08, |09, ||0 will close the normally open contacts I08a and |08b, |09a and |09b, ||0a and I0b. The relay Lo is thus energized by a circuit starting at point and comprising conductor ||2 including solenoid coil |05, contact point 0a, conductor ||3, point 9|, conductors 92 and 94, noinally closed switch X1,con ductors 96 and 98, point 99, contact'point ||0b, conductor I5, normally closed main contacts |5a of the electronic level control device L1, aninternal conductor |5b within .the device L1, and

conductor'I I6 terminating at point 1 on line 8|.4 When energizing the relay Q2 the solenoid ||8 thereof will lift thecontactmember ||9 so that the vcontact portions |20 and |2| open the normally closed contacts |20a and |20b as well as |2|a and |2|b, while the contact portions |22, |23, |24 close the normally open contacts |22a and |2217, |23a and |23b, |24a and |242). The solenoid ||8 is energized by a circuit starting at point |25, and comprising a conduit |26 including the solenoid coil |I8, contact point |24a, conductor |21, point 93, conductor 94, normally closed switch X1, conductor 96, point 91, conductor |28, contact point |24b, conductor |29, main contacts `|30 of the electronic level control device Q1, an internal conductor |30a within the device Q2, and conductor |3| terminating at point |32 on line 0|.

It will be noted that the normally closed relay switch X1 serves merely to establish the energizing circuits for the relay switches J2, Lz, Q2, to cause the switch members to reset as just described, and to hold the circuit closed until all the relay switches have thus responded and have locked themselves in due to the closing of. contact portion 81 on contact points 81a and 81h (for relay switch J2), the closing of contact portion ||0 on contact points ||0a and ||0b (for relay switch L2), and the closing of contact portion |24 on contact points |2441 and |24b (for relay switch Q2). The re-setting done,the switch X1 should open, to allow the relays J2, L2, Q2 to operate in sequence, that is to drop one after another as controlled` by the further automatic function of the` system. To thisend the normally open time delay switch S is energized by the closing of the line switch C, but will close only after a suitable lapse of time, say 15 seconds, within which time'the relay switches J2, La, Q2 have had a chance to reset themselves. When at the end of this time interval the switch S closes it establishes an en-l |33 of switch X1,

ergizing circuit for solenoid coil which opens the switch and holds it open through the remainder of the automatic operation. It will be noted that the energizing circuit for the switch X1 starts at point |34 on line and comprises conductor |35, the closed switch S. conductor |36, point |31', conductor |38, point |39, main contacts |40 of timer switch X, point |4|, conductor |42, solenoid coil |33, conductor |43 terminating at point |44 on line -8| In parallel with the energizing circuit for the switch X1 is a circuit running from point |31 operation, that is 'to a point at the end of the current operation when again a re-setting of the re'lay switches J2, L2, Q2 is required for a subsequent regeneration f ananas i through conductor |48 to point |48, through conductor |4l,l time clock |48, conductor |48, point |50, and conductor |5| .terminating at point |52 on line 8| which starts themechanism of time v clock |48 and keeps it going until auch time .as

the line switch C should again be opened. The

l or target |54 which when contacted by the pointer will cause the main contacts |40 to open thus breaking the energizing circuitthrough switch X,

-allowing the same to close and to cause re-setting of the relay switches Je, Le, Qa inthe manner described above. The very re-setting or the relay Qa breaks the actuating circuit for the clutch device U thus allowing the'timing pointer |58 to return to zero and thereby in turn to close the portion 84 (in .relay switch Ja) closes the contact points 85a and 85h to establish an energizing eircuit i'ox-,the solenoid unit K to open the outlet valve 53 for tank I5 so the pump 48 can pump the contents oi' that tank (that is once-usen or medium strong regenerant solution) to the exchanger bed |0. This energizing circuit, is estab.- lished i'rom point |82-on line 80 through conductor |83, closed contestano-88h, conductor |84, solenoid coil |85, conductor |88, closed conpoint |88 on line 8|. The solution being pumped l from tank IIto the top of bed I0 displaces from main contacts |40 of the timer switch to re-energize and open the switch X1.

The energizing circuit for the switch S starts at point |55 on line 80 and comprises conductor |56, solenoid coil |51, conductor |58 terminating at point lss on une si.

Assuming now the relays J2, Lz, Qa all having been properly re.set due tothe delayed opening of 4 switch X1, the actual automatic sequential operation of the solution tanks |2, |3, |4 and of the bed-washing and wash water recovering steps will now bedescribed.

To initiate this operation the start push button` |59a of the push buttondevice B is depressed to establish an energizing circuit Vfor the starter switch A. The starter switch A has a solenoid coil |80 to actuate the switch member |6| which has three normally open contact portions |62, |63, |84 adapted' to close corresponding contact points |62a and |821), |63a and |6312, |64a and |64b of a power supply represented by three conductors |85, |88, |81 feeding the motor O which drives pump 48. The-switch member |8| also has two normally open auxiliary contact portions |88 and |89 adapted to close corresponding contacts |88a, |881), and |89a, |88b respectively.

Therefore, the .momentary closing of the start push button |59a through solenoid action on the switch member |8l has a triple effect, namely, (a) to start the pump motor O: (b) to hold a solenoid circuit from point |10 through conductor |1|, normallyl closed stop-push button contacts -|5llb, closed contact portion |68, solenoid holding coil |60, conductor |12, closed contact portion |22 of relay switch Q2, conductor |13 terminating `at point |14 online 8|; and (c) to energize solenoid unit H by establishing afcircuit from `point |15 through conductor |16, closed contact portion |89, conductor |11, solenoid coil |18, conducterminating at point |8| on line 8|.

This opens the outlet valve 52 of solution tank |2 so the pump 48 can start pumping twice used 'tor |18, closed contact portion 86, conductor |80 or weak regenerant solution from the tank |2 through valve 58 to the top ofexchanger bed I0,

displacing residual liquid from the bed through valve 40, gooseneck G1, disposal outlet pipe 45 and valve 4| into header 8 9 to waste. The automatic carry-over operation to switch from tank l2 to tank Il is effected when a lower. limit level of the solution in tank |2 aiects the electrode or probe J causing the electronic device Ji to open the contacts |02, which de-energizes the solenoid 82 of relay switch Jr releasing the switch member 88 thereof to open contactsv 86a-86b rie-energizing the solenoid coil |18 to allow the the bed residual spent solution through the valve 40, gooseneck Gx, disposal discharge pipe 45 and valve 4| to header 89 leading to waste. l

Again, when due to the emptying of tank i8 a lower limit level therein reaches the electrode or probe l, this initiates the automatic carryover from tank I8 to tank |4 by causing .the contacts ||8a to open and therebyto cle-energize solenoid coil |05 of relay switch La. This releases the switch member |08 opening the contacts ||0a, |l0b, to open contacts |09a|09b de-energizing solenoid coil of valve actuating unit K allowing valve 58 to close; closing contacts |01a|01b energizing solenoid coil |89 to open valve 84, and opening contacts |08a|08b de-energizing solenoid coil |90 of solenoid unit F closing the disposal discharge valve 4 I.

The energizing circuit for solenoid device M is established from point |9I. on line 80, through' conductor |92, `contacts |0la-|0'|b, conductor |98, solenoid coil |88, conductor |94, closed contacts Ina-|231), conductor terminating at point |98.

Consequently, pump 48 starts pumping strong regenerant solution from tank |4 to the top oi exchanger bed l0, displacing therefrom residual solution through valve 40 up through pipe sections 42, 43, 44 and then further up the distance h through gooseneck G2 (the disposal discharge valve 4| now being closed due to the de-energization of solenoid coil |90) into the header 46 (herein also called the irl-leading header) where the further now is blocked by the gooseneck Ga while' the solution Vis being allowed to pass through'the open valve 8| into tank |2 to serve vas twice-used regenerant solution in a subsequent operating cycle. When tank |2 has thus been re-filled, an upper limit solution level therein raises the iloat `6|a suiiiciently to cause the inlet valve 8| for the tank to close.

As the tank I4 empties, a lower limit level therein will cause the electrode or probe Q to break contacts |30 of the electronic level control device Q1 and thereby initiate another automatic carry-over operation namely that of sending rinse water through valve 16 to the top of, exchanger bed I0 thereby displacing residual solution therefrom as once-used solution into tank I3 by way of the open valve 40, pipe sections 42, 43, 44. the upright gooseneck G2, into the header 46 and on through the upright gooseneck Ga then to be blocked by the upright gooseneck G4 while owing through the inlet valve 62 held open by the then lowered'iloat 62a The circuit effecting this carry-over operation is established as the breaking of the contacts |30 cle-energizes solenoid ||8 oi the relay switch Q2, releasing the switch member ||9 and also opening the contacts |24a-l24b. This also opens contacts |23a|23b de-energizing solenoid |89 causing outlet valve 54 to close. This also opens contacts |22a|22b devalve 52 .to close. At the same time. the contact. 15 energizing the solenoid |80 of the power switch from residual solution as once used solution into tank |3. That is to say, the closing of contacts |2|a|2|b establishes a circuit from point |98 on line 80 through conductor |99 contacts |2|a I2 lb, conductor 200, switch contact Ys, conductor 20|, solenoid coil |91, conductor 202, switch contacts Yi, and nally through conductors 203 and ||1gtopoint ||1h onlineBI.'

The release of switch member I9 also closes contacts I 20a-|20b making a circuit to energize the clutch device U to start pointer |53 of clock |48.v 'I'his circuit is made from point |34 through the closed contacts of switch device S. conductor I 36, point |31, conductor |45, point |46, through clutch device U, point 206, conductor 201, closed contacts |20a-|20b, conductor 208, point |50, conductor to point |52 on line 8|.

The lling of tank |3 with once-used solution displaced from bed I0 by the rinse water will eventually raise the float 62a shutting the inlet valve 62 of the tank. Since the timer unit X has been set (by setting the target |54) to hold the rinse water valve open beyond this point, the water continuing to flow through the bed surges past the closed valve 63 throughu the upright sooseneck G4 into tank I4. The water lls the tank until it raises float 63a closing inlet valve 63.

The rinse water thus recovered in tank I4 contains a' portion of substantially unspent regenen,

ant solution or trailing solution as previously explained, and by the addition of regenerant chemical is then brought up to the strength required for fresh regenerant solution. Further excess water will then surge on through the gooseneck Gs and out through pipe 64 to the waste disposal header 39.

When the pointer |53 of the timer clock |48 contacts the target |54, this will open the contacts |40 in the timer device breaking the energizing circuit for the switch X1 permitting the switch to close and thereby to re-energize and re-set the relay switches J2, Le, Q2. The re-setting of the switch Q2 in turn breaks the circuit through the clutch device U. which frees the pointer I 53 allowing it to return to zero in the timer clock |48.

'I'he internal functioning of the timer switch X appears more Aclearly in Fig. 4 showing in particular the mechanical interconnection and operating relationship between the clutch device U,

the contacts 40, and the timer clock |48.

The timer clock |40 comprises a Telechronor electric clock motor 209 which runs continuously at a uniform rate, the motor 209 drawing its power through conductors 2|0 and 2|| respectively from terminals |46 and |50, the terminal |46 being connected bv way of conductor |45, point |31, conductor |36, closed -switch S, conductor |35, with point |34 on main line 80, the

vterminal |50..beingconnect'ed by way of conductor 6| with point |52 on main line 8|.

The clutch device U comprises an-electromag-- net 2|2 and an armature 2|3 in the form of a purpose and function of which will be explained further below. The electromagnet when energized attracts the horizontal arm 2|3a of the armature against the tension of a spring 2|3d causing the vertical arm 2|3b to engage the clutch 2|6. When the magnet is de-energized, the spring 2|3d acting upon arm 2| 3b disengages the clutch. The electromagnet 2|2 is energized through conductor 2|'| and 2I8 from terminals |46 and 206 respectively, the terminal |46 being connected by way of conductor |45, point |31,

conductor |36, closed contacts of switch S, conductor |35 lwith point |34 on main line 80, the terminal 206 being connected by way of conductor 201, closed contacts |20a and |20b of relay switch Q2, conductor 208, and conductor |5| with point 52 on main line 8 I.

The contacts |40 are connected through conductors 2|9 and 220 with terminals |39 and |4| respectively, the terminal |39 in turn being connected through conductor'l38, point |31, conductor |36, the normally closed contacts of switchr S and conductor |35 with point |34 on line 80, whileterminal I4I connects through conductor? |42, solenoid coil |33 of switch X1, and conductorV |43 with point |44 on main line 8|.

The clock motor |48 has a drive pinion 22| meshing with a gear 222 fixed on shaft 223 which is co-axial with a shaft 224, the shafts having potential driving engagement with one another by way of the clutch 2|6. The free end of shaft 224 has fixed thereon a pinion 225 meshing with gear 226 fixed on one end of a shaft 221 while the opposite end thereof has iixed thereon the pointer |53 shown in zero position although movable over an arcuate scale member 228.

The vtarget arm 230 has a bent over pointed extreme end portion 230er for adjustment relative to the numerals provided on the scale member 228 and representing the time intervalsl to which the opening of the contacts |40 can be adjusted by the angular adjustment of the targetarm 230.

When `the electromagnet 2|2 is energized and the clutch 2|6 accordingly engaged to transmit driving power from shaft 223 to shaft 224, the Telechron motor |48 will rotate the pointer 53 towards the target arm 230 by way of rotating the shafts 223, 224, and 221, such rotation being effected against the tension of a spiral spring-233 acting upon shaft 224. When the (pointer |53 reaches the target arm 230, the finger 229 will open the contacts |40 thereby de-energizing the electromagnet 2|2 and thus releasing the armature 2|3 and allowing spring 2|3d to disengage clutch 2I6.- This disconnects the driving power of the Telechron motor |48 from shaft 224 and allows the spiral spring 233 to return the pointer |53 to its zero position at vthe end of the scale member 228.

An example of the construction of any one of the electrode fittings J, L, Q. is presented in Fig.

' 5. An electrode proper 300 having a horizontal sleeve 30| which in turn has a tight fit in a nipple 302 screwed tightly into a reinforced portion oi the wall of a solution tank, the reinforcement bell crank lever 2|4 pivotally mounted as at 2|5,

the horizontal arm 2|3a of the leverl being under the control of the electromagnet whilethe vertical arm 2|3b by means of a bifurcated end portion 2|3c engages and operates a clutch 2|6 the being shown to consist of a iiange 303 welded to the` tank. Screwed tightly upon the nipple 302 is a T-plpe fitting 304 being closed by a plug or screw vcap 305. The lateral branch 306 of the pipe ttinghas screwed into it a tubular member 301 protectively surrounding an electric conduit 308 fastened as at 309 to the outer terminal of the electrode 300. The electric conduit 308 cornet result of this treatment, the ionized solutes in the water are replaced with the yinolar equivalent of pure water.

In conditioning some raw waters the problem is to reduce hardness and alkalinity by reducing the molar concentration of carbonates and/or bicarbonates irrespective of the presence of noncarbonates. This can be eilected by treating a proportion of the raw water supply with I-I-ion exchanger and mixing the resulting acidiiled emuent water from the exchanger bed with a suitable proportion of the untreated or raw water suillcient to neutralize the acidity. Such mixing of acidined water with untreated water to effect neutralization has been disclosed in thepatent to Vaughan, l

A certain proportion of this supply of raw water is subjected to cation exchange' treatment that operates in the H-ion exchange cycle, whereby the basic cations of the solutes are taken up by the exchanger material, while the molar equivalent in H-ion is released from the exchanger material into the solution. By thus replacing the cations of the non-carbonate portion of the solutes with H-ion, strong-acid is formed. In respect to the carbonateor iii-carbonate portion of the solutes, the exchange reaction will merely result in the formation or freeing of CO: and/or of carbonic acid as the case may be.

A lowering of the pH as evident in the eiiiuent water coming from the exchanger bed, is essentially due to the strong-acid component induced by this exchange operation, rather than due to the CO: and/or the carbonio acid component. There-- after, the untreated balance of the raw water supply is then utilized to eiIect neutralization oi the strong-acid component in the acid emuent water, by mixing. That is to say, the carbonate and/or bi-carbonate content lof the raw water portion being` admixed to, or blended in with the each tank for passing eilluent liquid thereto from said bed under a pressure head and an inlet con'- trol valve for each tank inlet adapted to be opened and closed while the flow cross-section of the conduit remains unobstructed. said feed conduit also having a disposal connection provided with a disposal valve disposed between the solution eiliuent means and the third tank, a discharge conduit leading from the solution tanks to said solution influent means of the container and having an outlet for each tank and an outlet control valve y for each tank outlet, and a control system to effect the sequential drainage operation of said solution tanks as well as the operation of said rinse water supply with respect to the bed by way ofsaid conl duits comprising a pump in circuit with said tanks 1 as well as said bed and said feed and discharge conduits for maintaining said operation, power drive means forthe pump, relay-controlled power means for actuating the third tank outlet valve, relay-controlled power means for actuating the second tank outlet valve, a relay device associated with thethird tank and adapted to initiate actuating impulses to said third and said second tank outlet valve power means when the third tank has substantially drained empty, control impulse transmitting means whereby said third tank relay device sends impulses to close the third tank outlet valve and to open the second tank outlet valve to allow first-used solution to pass to and through -the bed displacing residual liquid therefrom` treated and acidifled portion of the water, reacts A with the free acid, which reaction results in the formation of-additional C02 and/or carbonio acid.

The mixture having thus beensubstantially neutralized, may subsequently be subjected to treatment, such as aeration, for eiecting or hastening the removal from the mixture of C0: and/or carbonio acid.

'We claim: l. In combination with a container holding a bed. of exchanger material and having a valveccntrolled inlet for liquid to be passed through the bed for treatment, a valve-controlled outlet for treated liquid, influent ineens for regenerant solution to be passed through the bed, eiliuent means for the solution and a control valve therefor, a rinse water supply conduit and a control valve therefor, a system for regenerating the bed comprising a lrst tank for fresh regenerant solution, a second tank for first-used solution, a third tank for twice-used regenerant solution, a feed conduit leading from said solution ei'iluent means of the container to said tanks and having an inlet for through said disposal connection, relay-controlled power means for actuating the rst tank outlet valve, relay-controlled power means for actuating the disposal valve, a relay device associated with the second tank and adapted to initiate actuating impulses to both said first tank outlet valve and said disposal valve power means when the second tank has substantially drained empty, control impulse transmitting means whereby said last-mentioned relay device sends impulses to close the secondtank outlet valve as well as to close the disposal valve and to open the first tank outlet valve to allow fresh solution to pass therefrom to and through the bed by displacing residual'solution from the bed through the third tank inlet valve into the third tank, said feed conduit comprising a vented rising portion interposed between said disposal valve and the third tank inlet and sulciently high to prevent flow of liquid therethrough while the disposal valve is open but insufilciently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing bed eilluent liquid up through and past said rising portion for delivery into the third tank when the third tank inlet valve is open and the disposal valve is closed.

2. A regeneration system. according to claim 1, with the addition of a relay device associated with the iirst tank and adapted to initiate actuating impulses from the relay device to the power means of the first tank outlet valve, and control impulse transmitting means to close said outlet valve when the first tank has substantially drained empty.

3. A regeneration system according to claim 1, with the addition of a relay device associated with the tlrst tank adapted to initiate actuating impulses to the power means of the first tank outlet valve, relay-controlled power means for the rinse water control valve. control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends impulses for closing said rst tank outlet valve as well as for opening the rinse water supply valve to the bed when the ilrst tank has substantiallydrained empty whereby residual solution is Pdisplaced by .the rinse water from the bed through said feed vent said pressure head to force bed effluent liquid up through and past said rising portion for delivery into the second tank when the second tank inlet valve is open and the third tank inlet valve is closed, and actuating means associated with the third tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the third tank to close the third tank inlet valve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation. v

n 4. A regeneration system according 'to claim 1, with the addition of a relay device associated with the rst tank adapted to initiate actuating impulses to the power means of the first tank out` let valve, relay-controlled power means for the rinse water control valve, control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends impulses for closing said iirst tank outlet valve as well as for opening the rinse water supply valve to the bed when the first tank has substantially drained empty whereby residual-solution is displaced bythe rinse water fromv the bed through said feed conduit to and through the second tank inlet valve and into the second tank, said feed conduit comprising a second vented rising portion interposed between the third tankV inlet andthe second tank inlet and suiciently high to prevent flow of liquid therethrough while the second tank inlet valve is open but insufficiently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing bed eliiuent liquid up through and past said rising portion for delivery into the second tank when the second tank inlet valve is open and the third tank inlet valve is closed, actuating means associated with the third tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the third tank to close the third tank inlet valve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation, and said feed conduit comprising a third vented. rising portion interposed between the second tank inlet and the rst tank inlet and sufliciently high to prevent flowof liquid therethrough while the second tank inlet valve is open but insufficiently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing rinse water bed eilluent containing a quantity of trailing regenerant solution up through and past said rising portion for delivery into the first tank when the rst tank inlet valve is open and the second tank inlet-valve is closed, and actuating means asso.

ciated with the second tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the second tank to close its inlet valve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation.

5. A regeneration system according to claim 1,

in which said pump is disposed in said discharge conduit, and with the addition of a, relay device associated with the first tank adapted to initiate actuating impulses to the power means of the first tank outlet valve,- relay-controlled power means for the rinse water control valve, 'control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends impulses for closing said first tank outlet valve for stopping the power drive means for said pump'as well as for opening the rinse water supply valve tothe bed when the first .tank has substantially drained empty whereby residual solution is displaced by the rinsewater from the bed through said feed conduit to and through the' second tank inlet valve and into the second tank. said feed conduit comprising a second vented rising por- I tion interposed between the third tank inlet and vent said pressure head from forcing bed eiliuent liquid up through and past said rising portion for delivery into the second tank when the second tank inlet valve is open and the third tank inlet valve is closed, withA the third tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the third tank to close the third tank inlet valve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation.

6. A regeneration system according to claim 1' with the addition of a relay device associated with the rst tank adapted to initiate actuating im# pulses to the power means of the first tank outlet valve, relay-'controlled power means for the rinse water control valve, control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends impulses for closing said first tank outlet valve as well as for'opening the rinse water supply valve to-the bed when the rst tank has substantially drained empty whereby residual solutionis displaced by the rinse water from the bed throughsaid feed conduit to and through the second tank inlet valve and into the second tank, said feed conduit comprising a second vented rising portion interposed between the third tank, inlet and the second tank inlet and suiiiciently high to prevent fiow o f liquid therethrough while the second tank inlet valve is open but insuiiiciently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing bed effluent liquid up through and past said rising portion for delivery into the second tank when the second tank inlet valve is open and the third tank inlet valve is closed, actuating means associated with the third tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the third tank to close the third tank inlet valve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation, said feed conduit comprising a third vented rising portion interposed between the second tank inlet andthe first tank inlet and sufficiently high to prevent fiow of liquid therethrough while the second tank inlet valve is open but insuiciently high to prevent saii pressure head fromforcing rinse water bed efliuent containing a quantity of trailing 'regenerant solution up through and past said rising portion for delivery into the first tank when the first tank inlet valve is open and the second tank inlet valve is closed, actuating means associated with the second tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the second tank yto close its inlet valve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation, said feed conduit means comprising a Vfourth vented rising portion disposed past the rst tank inlet and sufficiently high .to prevent flow of liquid therethrough while the first tank inlet valve is open but insufficiently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing rinse water bedeiliuent up through and past said rising portion when the first tank inlet valve is closed, and actuating means associated with the first tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the first tank to close its inlet valve when the-level'reaches a predetermined elevation.

7. A regeneration system according to claim 1, with the addition of a relay device associated .with the first tank adapted t0 initiateactuating impulses to the power means of the first tank outlet valve, relay-controlled power means for the rinse water control valve, control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends and actuating means associated l MUY U 23 impulses for closing said first tank outlet valve as well as for opening the rinse water supply valve to the bed when the first tank has substantially drained empty whereby residual solution is displaced by the rinse water from the bed through said feed conduit to and through the second tank inlet valve and into the second tank, said feed conduit comprising a second vented rising portion interposed between the third tank inlet and the second-tank inlet and sufficiently high to prevent flow of liquid therethrough while the second tankvinl'et valve is open but insufiiciently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing bed eilluent liquid up through and past said rising portion for deliveryiinto the second tank when the second tank'inlet valve is open viding an outlet for each tank and a. control valve and the third tank inlet valve is closed, actuating means associated with the third tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the third tank to close the third tank inlet valve whenthe level reaches a predetermined elevation, said feed conduit comprising a third vented rising portion interposed between the second tank inlet and the rst tank inlet and suiciently high to prevent flow of liquid therethrough while the second tank inlet valve is open but insufliciently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing rinse water bed effluent containing a quantity of trailing regenerant solution up through and past said rising portion for delivery'into the first tank when the iirst tank inlet valve is open and the second tank inlet valve is closed, actuating means associated with the second tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the second tank to close its inlet valve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation, said feed conduit means comprising a fourth vented rising portion disposed past the first tank inlet and suiiiciently high to prevent flow of liquid therethrough while the first tank inlet valve is open but insuiciently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing rinse water bed eiiiuent up through and past said rising portion when the first tank inlet valve is closed, actuating means associated with the first tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level in the first tank to close its inletvalve when the level reaches a predetermined elevation, and actuating means controlled by substantially predetermined rinse water volume to close the rinse water control valve and to open the bed effluent dis- Dosal valve.

8. In combination with a container holding a bed of exchanger material and having a valvecontrolled inlet for liquid to be passed through the bed for treatment, a valve-controlled outlet for treated liquid, influent means for regenerant solution to be passed throughrthe bed, eiiluent means for the solution and a control valve therefor, a, rinse water supply conduit and a control valve therefor, a system for regenerating the bed comprising a first tank for relatively strong regenerant solution, a second tank for relatively weaker regenerant solution, a', feed conduit leading from said solution eiiiuent means of the container to said tanks and provided with an inlet for each tank for passing eiiluent liquid thereto from said bed under a pressure head as well as a control valve for each tank inlet adapted to be opened and closed while the iiow cross-section of` the conduit remains unobstructed, said feed conduit also having a disposal connection between the solution eiliuent means and the second tank and provided with a disposal valve, a discharge conduit leading from the solution tanks to said solution influent means of the container and proeffect the sequential drainage operation of said e solution tanks as well as the operation of said rinse water supply with respect to the bed by way of said conduits comprising a pump in circuit with said tanks as well as with said bed and with said conduits for maintaining said operation,

, power drive means for the pump, relay-controlled power means for actuating the second tank outlet valve, relay-controlled power-means for actuating the first tank outlet valve, a relay device associated with the second tank adapted to initiate actuating impulses to both said first and second tankoutlet valves when the second tank has substantially drained empty displacing liquid from the bed through said disposal valve, control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends impulses to close the second tank outlet valve as weil as to open the first tank outlet valve to allow fresh solution to pass therefrom to and through the bed displacing residual solution through said disposal valve, a relay device associated with the iirst tank adapted to initiate actuating impulses to the power means of the iirst tank outlet valve, relay-controlled power .means for the rinse water control valve, control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends impulses for closing said first tank outlet valve as well as for opening the rinse water supply valve to the bed when the first tank has substantially drained empty whereby residual solution is displaced by the rinse water from the bed through said feed conduit to and through the second tank inlet valve into the second tank when said disposal valve is closed, said feed conduit Y comprising a vented rising'portion interposed between the second and the iirst'tank inlet valve and suiciently high to prevent flow of liquid therethrough while the second tank inlet valve is open but insufficiently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing bed effluent liquid containing a quantity of trailing regenerant solution up through and past said rising portion for de` livery into the iirst tank when the first tank inlet valve is open while the second tank inlet valve is closed, and actuating means associated with the second tank inlet valve responsive to the liquid level in the second tank to close the second tank inlet valve when the4 level reaches a predetermined elevation.

9. A regeneration system according to claimt,

with the addition that said feed conduit comprises a second vented rising portion disposed past the rst tank inlet and sufficiently high to prevent iiow of liquid therethrough while the first tank inlet valve is open but insufliciently high to prevent said pressure head from forcing rinse water bed eiiluent up through and past said rising portion when the first tank inlet valve is closed, and actuating means associated with theiirst tank inlet valve and responsive to the liquid level l in the first tank to close its inlet valve when the level reaches a, predetermined elevation. y

10. A regeneration system according to claim 8, with the addition of actuating means controlled by a, substantially predetermined rinse water volume to close the rinse water control valve.A

11. A regeneration system according to claim 8, with the addition of actuating means controlled by a substantially predetermined rinse `water volume to close the rinse water control valve and to open the bed eiliuent disposal valve. 12. In combination .with a container holding a bed of exchanger material and having a vaivecontrolled inlet for liquid to be passed through the bed treatment, a valve-controlled outlet for treated liquid, iniluent means for regenerant solution to be passed throughthe bed, eluent means for the solution and a control valve therefor. a rinse water supply conduit and a control valve therefor, a tank for regenerant solution, a

feed conduit leading from said solution eiliuent means of the container to, said tank. an inlet for the tank for passing eiiluent liquid thereto from said bed under a pressure head. a control y valve for said tank inlet adapted .to be opened and closed while the llow cross-section of the conduit remains unobstructed, said feed conduit also having a disposal. connection provided with a disposal valve disposed between the solution eiliuent means and the tank, a discharge conduit leading from the solution tank to said solution influent means of the container and provided with an-outlet for said tank and a control valve for the outlet, a control system to eil'ect sequen-v tially the drainage of said tank into said bed and the operation of the rinse water supply with respect to the bed comprising a pump inV said discharge conduit and power drive means therefor, relay-controlled power means for actuating the tank outlet valve, relay-controlled power means for actuating the rinse water control valve,

s, relay device associated with the tank and adapted to initiate actuating impulses to said outlet valve power means when the tank has substantially drained empty displacing liquid through said disposal valve, control impulse transmitting means whereby said relay device sends impulses to close the tank outlet valve to stop the pump while opening the rinse water control valve whereby rinse water displaces residual solution from the bed first through said Number Name v Date #l 2,003,757 Pick 1 June 4, 1935 1,949,044 Doiterweieh Feb. 27, 1934 2,005,962 Bowers Dec. 29, 1935 85 2,217,822 symons oct. 15, 1940 2,287,284 Behrman June 23, 1942 2,145,820 3 Tucker Jan. 31, 1939 2,182,415 Thigpen neme, 1939 1,255,359 Uecke Feb. 5, 191s ldisposal valve while the same is open and then when that valve is closed displaces rinse water containing trailing regenerant solution into said l tank, said feed conduit comprising a rising portrolled by a substantially predetermined rinsev water volume to close the rinse water control valve and to open the discharge disposal valve.

` PETER. M. CONTANT.

ANTHONY` J. FISCHER. WAYNE. A. KIVELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe tlle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

